© 2011 Jerry D. Patillo, CPDT-KA
My Daddy is so much fun! He’s teaching me a lot of new tricks such as Touch/Tap, High Five, Spin/Other Way, and Verse (reverse). He’s teaching me Canine Freestyle, a fun doggy sport that’s been around since the 1990s. Although some humans call it “dog dancing,” there’s no dancing – no chacha, rumba, or foxtrot. You could almost compare it to figure ice-skating. In figure skating, a human couple is performing various moves together, set to music. In canine freestyle, a dog-human couple is also doing various maneuvers together, all in synchrony to music playing in the background.
Freestyle is so much fun! The best part for me, a Labrador Food Hound, is that I get to scarf down a bunch of yummy treats! I can hardly contain my excitement when Daddy brings out the treats and clicker!
Another thing about freestyle is that it keeps me physically and mentally active. I hardly ever get into mischief (!) because I’m looking forward to my next training session with my favorite human. I love to learn new things!
I also get to consume a lot of delicious treats. (Oh, did I mention that already?)
If you’d like to see some examples of canine freestyle, please click on the following links. Please let my Daddy know if you run into a dead link or if you are redirected to an inappropriate site.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R286qV70goI
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEbnJ-nPBSE&playnext=1&list=PL6A3DBD9012AD3975
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqbVbPvlDoM
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s413fl4dGUU&feature=related
Who knows? Maybe I’ll be on YouTube some day! 🙂
The last link shows Pam Martin and “Spy.” They’re with Top Dog Obedience Training in Garland, Texas (http://www.topdogdallas.com/Freestyledance.htm). If you’d like to get involved with canine freestyle, give them a call at (972) 494-7387. Please tell them that “Lady” with Phoenix Behavior sent you!
If you’d like to learn more about “dog dancing,” please check out the links below.
- http://www.canine-freestyle.org/
- http://www.musicaldogsport.org/
- http://www.worldcaninefreestyle.org/
Well, I’ll go for now. It’s time for my afternoon nap. I’ve got to get a lot of rest. I need to build up a lot of energy to explode onto my Daddy tonight, exhausted after a long day at work!
Until next time,
X O X O X O
Hugs and licks,
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